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| Home > City Guide - Milan - Getting Around | ||
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Getting Around Public Transport For those foot-weary travellers tired of dodging scooters, Milan has a comprehensive transport network run by Azienda Trasporti Milanesi or ATM (tel: (02) 7252 4360; website: www.atm-mi.it). Swapping between the metro, bus, tram and trolley bus is easy, thanks to an integrated ticketing system. Services operate daily 0600-2400, with night buses running to around 0130. Tickets cost €1 and last 75 minutes, allowing the traveller to use unlimited buses and trams within this time or make one trip on the metro. The metro has three lines: the red MM1, green MM2 and yellow MM3. The lines converge at Duomo, Centrale FS, Loreto and Cadorna. Tickets must be validated by punching them in the SITAM machines on-board buses or at the metro stations. Single tickets or carnets of ten tickets costing €9.20 are available for purchase from newsagents, tobacconists (a capital T for tabacchi distinguishes these outlets), most coffee bars and at automatic vending machines at major bus stops. Passes, valid for one or two days, are available for purchase from ATM railway offices at Cadorna, Centrale FS, Duomo, Loreto and Romolo. The one-day Abbonamento giornaliero pass costs €3, while the two-day Abbonamento bigiornaliero pass costs €5.50. These are good value for individuals on short visits but also for families on Sundays when one ticket is valid for both parents and children. Taxis Taxis are generally white (some are yellow or painted in livery of sponsors) and can be hailed on the streets, although they rarely stop. It is better to hire them at taxi ranks outside train stations. Visitors can telephone from a landline (tel: (02) 1478 14781) and an automated voice will inform them of the nearest rank. Telephone bookings are run by co-operatives. The main firms are Radiotaxi (tel: (02) 6767 or 5353) and Autoradio (tel: (02) 8585). The minimum fare is currently €3. However, with a base charge of €2 and a charge of around €0.80 per kilometre, plus supplements for luggage, night-time travel or travelling on a Sunday, taxi costs can quickly add up. Tipping is not expected, unless the driver has been exceptionally helpful. Limousines Luxury cars, chauffeured by English-speaking drivers, can be provided by Autonoleggio Pini (tel: (02) 2940 0555; website www.pini.it) or the Eurochange Business Centre (tel: (02) 5858 1199), based at Malpensa airport. Prices start from €270 for eight hours, including 10% taxes and allowance for the driver’s lunch. Driving in the City If at all possible, driving in the centre of Milan should be avoided. Streets in the city centre are congested virtually all day and night and any street can become a hotspot. Parking is also very difficult – Italian parking techniques are often unusual. Paying for hotel or private garages in the city centre is expensive. Roadside parking in the historic centre is limited to a maximum of two hours within the blue lines marked by sosta a pagamento (pay to stop) signs. Motorists must buy special cards (Sosta Milano) for €2.60 for two hours in the centre and €2 outside the historical zone, from ATM offices at metro stations or bars and tobacconists, then scratch out the relevant date, hour of arrival and whether they plan to stay one or two hours. Drivers must also purchase Sosta Milano in the area of the trade fairs, when these are in progress. For visitors making a day trip to Milan, the best option is to head to one of the park and ride schemes run by ATM, which connect with Milan’s metro system. Electronic signs on the main roads into the city indicate directions to the nearest car park and the number of spaces remaining. The car parks are open 0700-2000 and parking costs €2.60 for eight hours, a veritable bargain in comparison to private car parks. Those determined to drive further in could try the private car park of Autosilo Borgospesso, Via Borgospesso 18, close to the Cathedral (open 24 hours). Most Italians drive as if they were Formula One racing drivers and, although there are relatively few accidents, one must always be extremely careful. Rush hour can run from 0700-1100 and 1500-2100 or far later (many football fans drive around Milan blowing their horns for hours after home victories). The public transport system is excellent and far faster than travelling by car. Car Hire Drivers must be 23 years or over (depending on company policy) and carry an EU licence or full International Driving Permit. Insurance is included in the price of hire. At least three major companies have car hire offices in the city centre: Avis, Via Corelli 150 (tel: (02) 5530 5276; website www.avis.com), Hertz, Piazza Duca D’Aosta (tel: (02) 6698 5151; website: www.hertz.com), and Maggiore, Via Canonica 64 (tel: (02) 311 029 or 342 943). Despite the popularity of motoring holidays, car hire in Italy is expensive, costing around €451 per week. Bicycle Hire Milanesi are enthusiastic cyclists and often spend Sundays cycling along the canals or cycle paths to the countryside outside the centre. Cycling in the centre may seem a good option in a city that is flat and has many dedicated cycle paths, however, traffic fumes, hair-raising driving and tram tracks are just some of the problems cyclists face. Hiring bicycles is not common, as most Milanesi buy their own but AWS Bicomotor, Via Ponte Seveso 33 (tel: (02) 6707 2145), is one place that does (rates from €21 per day). |
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